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(No Model.)

OSMERS. DRAPBRY DER FOR SHBLVES, &c.

mares DRAPERY-HOLDER FOR SHELVES, &, 0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 601,354, dated March 29, 1898. Application filed April 2,1897. Serial timescale. (No model.)

To all zuhmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK O. OSMERS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drapery-Holders for Shelves, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved device for the convenient and easy attachment of drapery to shelves, mantels, &c., where it is impossible or undesirable to use tacks or other devices oflike nature. I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to use clamps for similar purposes; but so far as I am aware all of such clamps or clamping devices have eitherbeen incapable of general use or have been so large and cumbersome as to make it diflicult to conceal them without at least arranging the drapery in certain set forms.

My device is capable of application to shelves or mantels or cornices or moldings of any description, is inexpensive, holds the drapery securely, does not require the drapery to be arranged in any special manner, and may be either wholly concealed or exposed as a feature of ornamentation.

I have illustrated various forms of my device in the accompanying drawings and will proceed to describe the features of my invention more particularly with reference thereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a portion of a shelf and its drapery in section, with one form of my improved holder in edge view. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the holder shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of a holder of the same form, but with a device for securing the drapery thereto, which forms a feature of ornamentation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a shelf having its front edge of a different form from that shown in Fig. 1, with the holder adapted thereto. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a holder adapted to a shelf with a front edge of still difierent form, the shelf being indicated by dotted lines.

As represented in the several figures of the drawings, the holder A consists mainly or wholly of a narrow strip of sheet metal, more or less spring-y, which is bent to conform substantially to the edge of the horizontal shelf,

mantel, cornice, or molding B,.to which the drapery is to be secured, but which comprises in each form three severalmembers. The upper member a is relatively short and is bent downward somewhat, so that its edge shall bear upon the shelf near the front edge of the latter. The lower member a is longer than the member a and is bent upward slightly, so that it shall bear against the under side of the shelf, as at a at a point preferably somewhat beyond the vertical plane which passes through the bearing-point of the upper member a, so that the tendency of the holder to be drawn off from the shelf by the weight of the drapery shall be resisted. The middle member a unites the other two members and conforms more or less in curvature or inclination to the edge of the shelf to which the holder is applied and bears against the same.

It will be noticed that the upper member a extends downwardly at an oblique angle with the middle member a. Thus the lower resilient member causes the upper member to bear firmly and directly upon the shelf or other article to which the drapery is to be secured, and even a strain in aline practically parallel with the upper and lowersurf aces of the shelf will be resisted.

If the holder is to be'wholly concealed by the drapery, it is used without additional parts, being provided with holes (1 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, through which stitches may be taken, as indicated at a in Fig. 1, to secure the drapery thereto. If desired, an ornamental fastening device a may be employed, as shown in Fig. 3, having flexible points M, which pass through the fabric and through the holes a and are clenched on the inside of the holder.

It will be observed that in the use of my device the tendency of, the downward pull of the fabric upon the member a to pull the member a off from the upper edge of the shelf is resisted by the pressure of the lower member a against the under surface of the shelf and i that consequently the holder will remain in place and will sustain any weight which may be attached to it provided such weight is not I may be made in anyone of a great variety of shapes, according to the configuration of the shelf or other object to which .it is applied.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make a substantially U shaped tidy-holder to slip upon the back of a chair, the said back being substantially Vertical and any strain upon the tidy being in substantially the same plane as the limbs of the holder. I am also aware that it has been proposed to make a U-shaped clip to slip upon or to be secured to the edge of a drawing board or table to hold asheet of paper down upon the table or board. In the present case, however, it is to be observed that Whatever strain is put upon the holder is substantially at right angles to the general direction of the horizontal members of the holder, Wherefore the holder mustbe shaped in a certain manner and its members must be so related to each other as to enable it to resist such strain Withoutbeing dislodged.

I claim as my invention- A drapery-holder comprising a clasp formed of a single strip having the vertically-disposed member ct provided with apertures to permit the drapery to be secured thereto, a short downwardly and rearwardlyinclined member a and alonger rearwardly-projecting member a having an upwardly-bent portion a in rear of the extremity of the member a, and a fastening provided with flexible prongs or points to pass through the drapery and apertures, to be clenched on the inner side; substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of April, A. D. 1897.

FRANK C. OSHERS.

In presence of v A. N. JEsBERA, ANDREW H. SOOBLE. 

